"How did you manage to coax my mother?" she asks, wiping her lips with the napkin. After the delicious dessert, she is well content with the dinner. She is surprised to know his cooking skills are so well but at the same time, she cannot help but question why he has to learn all these? Why there is no one in this house? But first, the question relating to her mother needs more attention.

To her question, he smirks, dropping the napkins onto his plate. "With my words" he taunts and she rolls eyes with his twisted answer. He takes the plates and rising from the chair, he takes them in both of his hand and travel to the kitchen. Does she wonder how he knows all these kinds of stuff? Watching him today, she is getting more and more curious about him.

"You haven't answered my question" she presses, following him to the large kitchen. As she enters the kitchen, she is surprised by how the kitchen looks. The kitchen area has a lot of space with everything on the granite top looks perfectly unclutter. The mix of grey and white with the black shiny granite tops compliments the kitchen.

"She was already impressed by me, thanks to you," she says, turning to her, giving her a smug smile, "She was hesitant at first but I assured her that you will be in utmost safety."

"Didn't she asked on what account you are asking me for?" she questions.

"As your business partner, as your savior, and you owe me a favor so I had to return" he answers, cleaning his hands. His answers somehow made Shi Lian upset. She knows she should not feel upset about it but she cannot help the emotions coming up.

Noticing her upset face, he clarifies, "Because I thought you do not want me to tell them, not yet." he is right. If he told them, she will be infuriated. Amidst all this chaos, the rawness that they have is something that she wants to keep hidden until everything is sought out. As much as it hurts to keep it a secret she knows it's for their best. Zichen's soft touch makes her return from her cloud of thoughts. Tilting her chin up, he meets his eyes.

"You did right" Shi Lian whispers dropping her eyes again. She fidgets with her fingers because the sadness from her face won't go.

"Look at me" he orders softly, his one resting on the back of his waist. She does as he commands and when she looks up to meet his eyes, she found the rawness, the intensity, and the passion- all for her. "I know your worries, I know baby." His husky voice is a spell that always made her enchanted. She nods slightly but the hot breaths that are falling on her lip are too hard to ignore.

"How do you always manage to say the right things? Why are you so freakin considerate?" she questions and sighs. Her hands caressing his sharp jaw which is shaved with no hair to feel. "How do you make my heart rest at ease and at the same time drive it like crazy?" she continues accusing and touching her face. her slender fingers toches the corner of his lips and his hold tightens. She licks her lips imagining his on hers so badly that it aches.

Leaning closer, their forehead touching he whispers, "Wish I could answer all your questions, baby."

Her eyes drift from his eyes than to his seductive lips and she wants him to kiss her and when he leans down, she thought he will but instead, he smirks, "How about we play a game?"

Just now she wants to punch him for making her feel all needy. But if he plans on playing a game, then she will not bug down. "What are we playing?" she accepts the challenge and pulls away from his hold, crossing her arms before her chest.

He smirks, amusement written all over his face. He holds her hand and leads her out of the kitchen and traveling up, towards the stairs, they move upstairs. The stairs are made up of glass as well and it kind of sends shivers down her spine when she looks down from the stairs as they take the steps.

Reaching to the top, he takes the left direction. The walls are plain with nothing but some paintings hanging on them. they pass two other rooms before stopping before the dark door. He slides the door and steps in, Shi Lian follows holding onto his grip. Her nerves were hyperaware and her heart is pounding hard inside her chest. "What is this room?" she asks and gulps softly. The room is dark with no light on and even though she is fine with darkness, this room is kind of giving her chills.

Zichen moves and switches on the lights. A circle of tiny dots made into spirals illuminates, lightening the room. Looking around her eyes widen to find the bid pool table in the middle and big shelves to the corners with numerous books stack inside them. "Are we playing pool?" she asks but she already knows the answer. He nods and her eyes light up and her mouth curves up into a smile. She is good at sports but too good at playing pool. Residing in America, she used to play billiards to kill her time and to distract herself from thinking about her past.

"You know how to play? " he questions, closing the door and approaching her. the room is silent with no other sound than his footsteps and their breathing. So quiet. This house is like another world that makes you apart from the reality where you have no idea what is going on outside. She doesn't even know what time is it now. When she arrived here, it was 7. She only hopes that it's not late or else she needs to give a full explanation to her mother and her father.

Crossing her arms before her chest, she gives him a challenging look, "I know the rules." The corner of his mouth twitches as he looks at her with amusement. He brushes past her and sets the table. The long rectangular is set free with a designated number of small balls and a long stick called a cue. The table and the cushioned rail bordering are topped with a feltlike tight-fitting cloth. The six pockets are fitted on the corners of the greenish table where the ball will be deposited.

"How about we make a deal?" he says, giving her his devilish smirk which she knows he is up to something.

"Bring it on" she asserts walking up to the table. she stands opposite Zichen, their gaze lock, and the fire ignites making her heart flutter.

"If I win, I want your clothes," he says, "And if you win, you may decide what you want." Shi Lian feels the blush on her cheeks and she looks away. Naked? Well, she is not saying she will lose but she hasn't seen him play and she doesn't know if he is good at it than her or not. But the deal is tempting and she is in no way backing away from a challenge.

"Deal. If I win, I want answers to my questions" she replies. She does not know much about and the challenge seems perfect to get to know him.

"Deal."

He passes her the cue stick and she catches it without startling. He sets the balls free that were caged in a triangle case, the balls roam around the table cluttering to random places. He gestures her to start the game and she does. She leans back, positioning the stick to the red ball, with her back arching and her hips in the air as she focuses on the ball with her stick. Pulling the stick back and focusing on the ball again, she strikes it and the ball makes its way to the center pocket along with the green ball in the left corner. Feeling satisfied, Shi Lian gives him a smirk who is watching her intently.

She moves to the side where Zichen is standing and stands in front of him. He stays in his place as she arches her back and her hip touching his arousal. She hears him sucking in the air and she smiles to herself, taking fun teasing him. He teased her earlier so it's only fair for her to do so. Aiming at the black ball with her stick, she draws the stick back and strikes with a force. The ball misses the corner pocket getting hit with another ball. She twists her lips and gets up.

Zichen's hand brush against her as he takes the stick from her hold. "My turn" he whispers near her ears, making her shiver. She is curious and eager to watch him play and if he somehow wins, she doesn't think she will regret it, at all.